Who lived to raise up the lowly and bring peace to all people. IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES IT WAS THE ….. In the time of Jesus there were those who had, and had a lot, and then those who had not. For the Jews there were those aristocracy who lived in Jerusalem and were part of three different political groups. Excavations of their homes in and around Jerusalem
Who showed through His Life, the Heart and Character of God HAMSTER WHEEL One of the most significant theological insights I have had, happened in Hebrew Bible class in Seminary. We we were talking about Moses and the burning bush. My professor was teaching us about the Hebrew words that are translated into English as, “I am.” As in, God telling Moses, “I am who I am.” and “tell
Who Shows Through His Life the Heart and Character of God THE PIVOT This past year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we were singing a hymn in worship and I noticed that the first verse was about angels announcing the birth of Christ. The very next verse was how Christ came to earth to die so we could live forever. I thought, “This captures the whole of the
We believe in Jesus, God’s own Son THE NEW MATH There is a debate at Seminaries about the nature of Jesus. This belief structure about the nature of Jesus is called a Christology or Christ-ology. One way to characterize them is a, “High Christology” and a, “Low Christology.” Another, less helpful way is, “right” and a “wrong,” though people who characterize them in this way all have a funny way
We Believe In Jesus MULTI COLORED AFROS It seems like believing in Jesus is a pretty straight forward thing. I remember watching the Super Bowl as a kid and seeing a guy with a multi-colored afro wig. He had a sign that said, “Jesus Saves.” and, “John 3:16.” I remember feeling thrilled that there was a reference to Jesus on TV at the Super Bowl. A few years ago, I
Who Lives In Us and Through us, and Fills us with Wonder WONDER FILLED We have been created with a complexity and creativity that makes us wonder about the creator. We too, have the ability to create wonderful things, some of which make people wonder about us. We have this line in our creed because we want to affirm that we are both wonderful and wonder filled. ON BEING WONDERFUL
Who Lives In Us and Through us, and fills us with Wonder SOMETIMES IT WORKS A few years back I had the great opportunity to coach 5th and 6th grade basketball. It was one of the best growing experiences of my life. I got to watch, as my team came together and put into action, the plan I had tried to instill in them. Sometimes it all fell apart and
Who Lives In Us, and Through us DON’T LET GO OF THE ROPE God has come along way. At one time the Hebrew’s believed that a High Priest was needed to communicate with God. It probably began with Moses going up onto Mt. Sinai to meet with God on behalf of the Isrealites. Later when they wandered in the desert for 40 years, a large box called the Ark of
The Believes in Us, Trusts us, and Empowers Us GIFTING THE CALLED My good friend, Rich Melheim, often says, “God often gifts the called, rather than only calling the gifted.” In my brief time as a pastor, I have found this to be true. I have seen people who may not have been an obvious choice, find that in taking on a new challenge, rise to the occasion and become
GOD TRUSTS US??? We affirm in this creed that not only are we are to trust God, but that God trusts us. I can’t imagine what it would take for God to put the future of Christianity into the hands of the believers. Even more, there is plenty of evidence that we have let God down in being ambassadors to the world on God’s behalf. Jesus did promise us that